Alamo Plaza in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Digging Back in Time

Archaeology for Preservation

Photographed By James Hulse, March 23, 2023

1. Digging Back in Time Marker

Inscription. 25 years ago, engineers tried to block rising damp by pushing a special plate made of corrosion-resistant alloy through the Alamo Church's foundations. Today's excavations here will tell preservation architects how well this metal plate, called a Monel plate, is working - but that's not all.

To investigate the Monel plate, archaeologists had to dig down six feet, which meant they uncovered soils that had not been disturbed for over 2 centuries. In doing so they also found a variety of brightly painted ceramics dating from the Alamo's earliest years, when it was a Spanish religious settlement called Mission San Antonio de Valero.

Captions
Puebla Polychrome
Fragments of ceramic called Puebla Polychrome were found during 2019 excavations. This is one of the oldest types of Mexican-made ceramics archaeologists find at the Alamo.

Top: 1995 excavations to install the Monel plate at the south transept of the Church.
Bottom: Today, moisture experts, stone conservators, and preservation experts are assessing how the plate is functioning.

Erected by The Alamo Organization.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Churches & Religion

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• War, Texas Independence. A significant historical year for this entry is 2019.

Location. 29° 25.538′ N, 98° 29.17′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Alamo Plaza. Marker is at the intersection of Alamo Plaza and East Crockett Street on Alamo Plaza. The marker is located at the south side of the Alamo. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Late 18th Century Cannon (a few steps from this marker); Cannon From the Battle of the Alamo (a few steps from this marker); Lt. Col. William Barret Travis (a few steps from this marker); The Palisade (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Cannon From the Battle of the Alamo (within shouting distance of this marker); An Archaeological Puzzle (within shouting distance of this marker); Strong Foundations (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Cannon From the Battle of the Alamo (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Photographed By James Hulse, March 23, 2023

2. Digging Back in Time Marker

The view of the Digging Back in Time Marker along the south wall of the Alamo image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, March 23, 2023

3. The view of the Digging Back in Time Marker along the south wall of the Alamo

Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 67 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 5, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.